I have two sisters. They're both pretty cute girls and lots of fun to be around. They're also both a lot younger than I am, so sometimes I feel more like their mom than their sister and I'm sure they sometimes think of me more of a grumpy adult. So, my Christmas present to them this year was a night for sisters only. I was hoping that it would help remind them that when it comes down to the bare bones truth, I'm really just another one of them (just 15 years older....) 
Unbelievable. That's what I think. What happened to that little baby of mine? He's so grown up and so active (makes it hard to get a good photo of him...) Now for some random ramblings about the Pookster: He eats pretty much everything we eat. He has a bad habit of rubbing food in his hair when a)He is finished eating or b)He doesn't like what you're trying to feed him. He is suddenly interested in watching Curious George with Nolan. He likes to color with crayons (and does an astounding job of it, I might add). He took a bath (more like he played naked) in one side of the kitchen sink while I did dishes in the other side today. Thank goodness for double basin sinks! It worked out well for both of us, we may try it again sometime. His hair curls a lot when it gets wet. It's also getting pretty long and shaggy looking........ He gets hurt in some small way pretty much every day. To keep him from hurting himself, I would seriously have to carry him around all day or strap him to something. So, hopefully he gradually becomes less dangerous. He graduated to 12 month clothes. It's crazy to see him in clothes that Nolan was still wearing when Gerret was born! This kid definitely has something on Nolan as far as size goes. They'll be in the same clothes by the time they're in elementary school. He copies all sorts of sounds and words and actions. I don't know if he understands totally what he's saying, but he does say "dada" and something like "dawdaw" when he points at pictures of dogs on the wall. He has an infectious laugh and those big dark brown eyes and dimples and oh man, he's just so awful cute. Sometimes, all I can think is, where did this kid come from? He couldn't be mine! Other times, when he's being Baby Crankypants, all I can think is, where did this kid come from? Take him back!
Now for these dumb pictures. The light was nice and that happens so infrequently these days,
that I thought I would capitalize on it. I really only wanted 1 picture of 11 month old Gerret, but it had to be good. Nolan thought he would get in on the action. That would have been fine with me, if Gerret would have cooperated. Like I said, I was only interested in a good picture of 11 month old Gerret. In my book, that means the audience has ample opportunity to acknowledge how endearing those eyes are.... and it's focused, and the light is good, and nothing is going too wrong (like boogers, too much food on the face, too much belly showing, distracting background, etc.) And so, he just would not look up. When he finally did, I got this:
Lindsay is quite possibly the greatest mom ever. She's also the best wife anyone could ever have (so sorry for the rest of everyone out there who's not her husband). She has a very quiet strength about her that carries her through even the toughest days. On Sunday last, she taught young womens, gave a talk in sacrament meeting, rehearsed a choir song for the first time, and then lent her support in a village wide christmas concert. She will always tell you about how shy and uncomfortable she is in a public setting, but despite it all she has never let it keep her from helping out when help was needed. And, as depicted, she has to do it all while having at least one boy hanging from her somewhere (even when the little guys are in bed I usually take over for them). I just want this to be a little tribute to the one who writes this blog and takes care of our family. You all know her, but not like I know her. She is as delicate yet firm as she is in the picture. And we do love to take our boys out into the woods--a little hard to do when it dumps snow all over the place . . . alas, we'll need to wait another few months before a picture like this is taken again. She'll still be just as photogenic though.
we put up our Christmas tree and decorations. We couldn't fit the fake tree we had last year, so we used just the top of it on a little table in our kitchen. Nolan helped me set up the nativity and Patrick put lights around our kitchen window. It's all very cheery and nice and helps our kitchen seem more cozy and inviting. Monday, Patrick took the day off. He had a dentist appointment in the morning, so we all took a trip to Ithaca. Gerret, Nolan, and I went to Target during part of the appointment and spent the rest of the time in the car, singing songs and eating snacks. After Ithaca, we did family stuff at home. 
It snowed all night Thursday and into Friday and we ended up getting enough for school to be canceled, so I watched The Aunts, which really ended up being The Aunts watched Nolan. He really likes them and was so excited when Aunt Olivia took him outside to play in the snow. When Patrick got home, we piled in the car and went to the Ithaca Chapel to see one of my young women get baptized. I have been the Young Woman President in the branch since August-ish and had only one partially active young woman until recently, and then suddenly my once-a-month Young Woman's Sunday meeting turned into an ev
ery week investigator class with two interested young women. Well, one of them got baptized this Friday and we went to it (the other girl is getting baptized next week and my investigator class will turn into a new member class). 
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